The Immune Landscape of Papillary Thyroid Cancer in the Context of Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Simple Summary The association between papillary thyroid cancer and Hashimoto's thyroiditis went through a long-standing human debate recently elucidated by the establishment of a novel mouse model. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is an excellent model for studying the tumor immune microenvironment because it is naturally accompanied by immune cells, making it a good candidate for the treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) often co-occurs with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an association that has long been reported in clinical studies, remaining controversial. Experimental evidence has recently shown that pre-existing thyroiditis has a beneficial effect on PTC growth and progression by a distinctive expansion of effector memory CD8 T cells. Although the link between inflammation and PTC might involve different components of the immune system, a deep characterization of them which includes T cells, B cells and tertiary lymphoid structures, Mye-loid cells, Neutrophils, NK cells and dendritic cells will be desirable. The present review article considers the role of the adaptive and innate immune response surrounding PTC in the context of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This review will focus on the current knowledge by in vivo and in vitro studies specifically performed on animals' models; thyroid cancer cells and human samples including (i) the dual role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes; (ii) the emerging role of B cells and tertiary lymphoid structures; (iii) the role of myeloid cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells; (iv) the current knowledge of the molecular biomarkers implicated in the complex link between thyroiditis and PTC and the potential implication of cancer immunotherapy in PTC patients in the context of thyroiditis

First inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy is often due to inaccurate device programming: analysis of the French OPERA registry

AIMS:Inappropriate therapy delivered by implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) remains a challenge. The OPERA registry measured the times to, and studied the determinants of, first appropriate (FAT) and inappropriate (FIT) therapies delivered by single-, dual- and triple-chamber [cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D)] ICD. METHODS AND RESULTS: We entered 636 patients (mean age = 62.0 ± 13.5 years; 88% men) in the registry, of whom 251 received single-, 238 dual-, and 147 triple-chamber ICD, for primary (30.5%) or secondary (69.5%) indications. We measured times to FAT and FIT as a function of multiple clinical characteristics, examined the effects of various algorithm components on the likelihood of FAT and FIT delivery, and searched for predictors of FAT and FIT. Over 22.8 ± 8.8 months of observation, 184 patients (28.9%) received FAT and 70 (11.0%) received FIT. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) was the trigger of 88% of FAT, and supraventricular tachycardia was the trigger of 91% of FIT. The median times to FIT (90 days; range 49-258) and FAT (171 days; 50-363) were similar. The rate of FAT was higher (P <0.001) in patients treated for secondary than primary indications, while that of FIT were similar in both groups. Out of 57 analysable FIT, 27 (47.4%) could have been prevented by fine tuning the device programming like the sustained rate duration or the VT discrimination algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: First inappropriate therapy occurred in 11% of 636 ICD recipients followed for ∼2 years. Nearly 50% of FIT could have been prevented by improving device programming

Increasing thyroid cancer incidence in Lithuania in 1978–2003

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to analyze changes in thyroid cancer incidence trends in Lithuania during the period 1978–2003 using joinpoint regression models, with special attention to the period 1993–2003. METHODS: The study was based on all cases of thyroid cancer reported to the Lithuanian Cancer Registry between 1978 and 2003. Age group-specific rates and standardized rates were calculated for each gender, using the direct method (world standard population). The joinpoint regression model was used to provide estimated annual percentage change and to detect points in time where significant changes in the trends occur. RESULTS: During the study period the age-standardized incidence rates increased in males from 0.7 to 2.5 cases per 100 000 and in females from 1.5 to 11.4 per 100 000. Annual percentage changes during this period in the age-standardized rates were 4.6% and 7.1% for males and females, respectively. Joinpoint analysis showed two time periods with joinpoint in the year 2000. A change in the trend occurred in which a significant increase changed to a dramatic increase in thyroid cancer incidence rates. Papillary carcinoma and stage I thyroid cancer increases over this period were mainly responsible for the pattern of changes in trend in recent years. CONCLUSION: A moderate increase in thyroid cancer incidence has been observed in Lithuania between the years 1978 and 2000. An accelerated increase in thyroid cancer incidence rates took place in the period 2000–2003. It seems that the increase in thyroid cancer incidence can be attributed mainly to the changes in the management of non palpable thyroid nodules with growing applications of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in clinical practice

Three-body correlations in Borromean halo nuclei

Three-body correlations in the dissociation of two-neutron halo nuclei are explored using a technique based on intensity interferometry and Dalitz plots. This provides for the combined treatment of both the n-n and core-n interactions in the exit channel. As an example, the breakup of 14Be into 12Be+n+n by Pb and C targets has been analysed and the halo n-n separation extracted. A finite delay between the emission of the neutrons in the reaction on the C target was observed and is attributed to 13Be resonances populated in sequential breakup.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR

The detection of neutron clusters

A new approach to the production and detection of bound neutron clusters is presented. The technique is based on the breakup of beams of very neutron-rich nuclei and the subsequent detection of the recoiling proton in a liquid scintillator. The method has been tested in the breakup of 11Li, 14Be and 15B beams by a C target. Some 6 events were observed that exhibit the characteristics of a multineutron cluster liberated in the breakup of 14Be, most probably in the channel 10Be+4n. The various backgrounds that may mimic such a signal are discussed in detail.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, LPCC 01-1

Ventricular fibrillation treated by cryotherapy to the right ventricular outflow tract: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmias originating from the right ventricular outflow tract are generally considered benign but cases of cardiac arrest have been described, usually associated with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or extrasystoles with short coupling intervals. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 54-year-old Caucasian woman with symptomatic right ventricular outflow tract arrhythmias without structural heart disease who suffered a ventricular fibrillation arrest without prior malignant clinical features. Cryoablation was performed and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator was implanted. She has since been free of arrhythmia for 7 years and has asked that the implantable cardioverter defibrillator not be replaced when the battery becomes depleted. CONCLUSIONS: Although usually benign, right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia can be life-threatening. Even the most malignant cases can be cured by ablation

Crossing the Dripline to 11N Using Elastic Resonance Scattering

The level structure of the unbound nucleus 11N has been studied by 10C+p elastic resonance scattering in inverse geometry with the LISE3 spectrometer at GANIL, using a 10C beam with an energy of 9.0 MeV/u. An additional measurement was done at the A1200 spectrometer at MSU. The excitation function above the 10C+p threshold has been determined up to 5 MeV. A potential-model analysis revealed three resonance states at energies 1.27 (+0.18-0.05) MeV (Gamma=1.44 +-0.2 MeV), 2.01(+0.15-0.05) MeV, (Gamma=0.84 +-$0.2 MeV) and 3.75(+-0.05) MeV, (Gamma=0.60 +-0.05 MeV) with the spin-parity assignments I(pi) =1/2+, 1/2- and 5/2+, respectively. Hence, 11N is shown to have a ground state parity inversion completely analogous to its mirror partner, 11Be. A narrow resonance in the excitation function at 4.33 (+-0.05) MeV was also observed and assigned spin-parity 3/2-.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, twocolumn Accepted for publication in PR

Nomenclature and semantic description of vascular lesions in small bowel capsule endoscopy: an international Delphi consensus statement

Background and study aims \u2002Nomenclature and descriptions of small bowel (SB) vascular lesions in capsule endoscopy (CE) are scarce in the medical literature. They are mostly based on the reader's opinion and thus differ between experts, with a potential negative impact on clinical care, teaching and research regarding SBCE. Our aim was to better define a nomenclature and to give a description of the most frequent vascular lesions in SBCE. Methods \u2002A panel of 18 European expert SBCE readers was formed during the UEGW 2016 meeting. Three experts constructed an Internet-based four-round Delphi consensus, but did not participate in the voting process. They built questionnaires that included various still frames of vascular lesions obtained with a third-generation SBCE system. The 15 remaining participants were asked to rate different proposals and description of the most common SB vascular lesions. A 6-point rating scale (varying from 'strongly disagree' to 'strongly agree') was used successive rounds. The consensus was reached when at least 80\u200a% voting members scored the statement within the 'agree' or 'strongly agree'. Results \u2002Consensual terms and descriptions were reached for angiectasia/angiodysplasia, erythematous patch, red spot/dot, and phlebectasia. A consensual description was reached for more subtle vascular lesions tentatively named "diminutive angiectasia" but no consensus was reached for this term. Conclusion \u2002An international group has reached a consensus on the nomenclature and descriptions of the most frequent and relevant SB vascular lesions in CE. These terms and descriptions are useful in daily practice, for teaching and for medical research purposes